We don’t know about you, but we are pretty damn excited that we can now get our kombucha right in store. Whether poured freshly from the tap or neatly packaged in those adorable little bottles, kombucha almost always feels like the right choice. It’s tart, it’s refreshing, it’s delicately effervescent. It’s amazing.

But wait a minute. What the hell is kombucha anyway?? If we had to guess, we’d say you may not have even heard about it until a few years ago. And even then, you likely nodded along, smiling, but really scratching your head on the inside.

Now that we are going to become your very favourite kombucha suppliers, we figured it’s about time we break down the ‘buch, giving you all the juicy details on what it is and what it can do for you. Got your pencils ready? It’s time for Kombucha 101.

As with many things that have gained wild popularity as of late because of their health benefits, kombucha is thousands of years old (not the actual kombucha, but the idea and the recipe!) and originated in either China or Japan. Kombucha is a fermented, lightly sparkling green or black tea, not to be confused with the kombucha culture of bacteria and yeast. It’s made by mixing bacteria and yeast with black or green tea and a bit of sugar. With the help of a SCOBY – that’s a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast for the uninitiated – the lightly sweetened tea transforms into what we know as kombucha. The bacteria and yeast-fuelled fermentation is what distinguishes kombucha (and also what gives it that slightly vinegary smell).

Obviously, kombucha tastes fantastic, but the moreish, bubbly drink also happens to have a whole host of health benefits. You just have to ensure that you avoid versions that have been allowed to ferment longer than normal, as they can have an alcohol content high enough to give you a small buzz. Normal kombucha is the teeniest bit alcoholic thanks to the fermentation process, but don’t stress. The numbers are so low it won’t affect you. The other important thing to keep in mind is the amount you drink. While a little bit of kombucha is great, consuming too much can cause issues like heartburn, so sip gently!

And now on to the good stuff. The health benefits! Because it is fermented, producing a mushroom-like film on the top of the liquid, kombucha happens to be very high in probiotic bacteria. Probiotics are important because they help to line your gut with healthy bacteria, which will in turn improve your overall health. A good gut bacteria flora can improve digestion, inflammation and promote weight loss.

You probably know how good green tea is for you – that’s why we love our Matcha & Maca Superfood Latte – and it seems that kombucha provides some of the same benefits of what some call the healthiest beverage on the planet. Kombucha that is made from green tea contains many of the polyphenols that act as powerful antioxidants usually found in green tea. Kombucha has been shown to have powerful antioxidant effects in the liver, reducing liver toxicity by up to 70%.

Even though it does contain some sugar, kombucha is shown to help slow down the digestion of carbs, reducing the overall blood sugar levels and improving both liver and kidney function. Studies have also shown that kombucha can improve both bad and good cholesterol in only a month. You can’t argue with statistics like that!

Are you convinced? We thought so! But on the off chance that none of the myriad health benefits sway you, we suggest popping into one of our stores and grabbing a bottle for yourself. If its claim to fame as a wellness warrior doesn’t convince you, it’s amazing taste will.